Fire destroyed a vacant home in Ernest Saturday, Nov. 2. It was the second major house fire in Ernest in a week.

The owner of the home at 522 First Street, Bill Bailey, had been working on plumbing in the basement using a torch, and had left to go to the store in Indiana. When he returned he discovered the flames, which fire officials say were related to the work Bailey had been doing in the basement. The Bailey family had moved out of the house recently, and it was for sale. The Creekside, Marion Center and Indiana fire companies were called to the scene at about 4 p.m.